Chapter 15

Transformations

Rose took her seat at the now-empty table as Alexander summoned a servant and asked for food to be brought to them. Her righteous anger had faded, leaving a giddy exhilaration in its place.

I cannot believe I did that.

She glanced at Alexander, only to find that he was watching her. His face was full of concentration, as though she were a riddle he was trying to solve. Their eyes met, and she flushed, but she did not look away.

"You look as though you are puzzling over some great question." Rose meant her voice to sound light, teasing, but the words came out earnest and curious.

Alexander nodded unselfconsciously. "You have surprised me. I cannot recall the last time someone spoke to me that way. I had not expected such behavior from you."

"In truth, I would not have expected it from myself either." Rose hesitated. "But I do not regret my outburst."

"Nor should you." Alexander's lips quirked up. "You spoke with honesty, conviction. And you were not mistaken."

"Thank you." Rose found that she meant it.

"I shall write to Mr. Black tomorrow and inform him of our intentions. We shall need to discuss staffing arrangements, of course. And arrange to have various things brought up from London." Alexander paused as a servant laid a plate in front of him. "I shall tell Mother that we plan to live here permanently."

"I am sure she will be most pleased." Rose smiled at the servant in thanks. "Will you speak to her this evening?"

Alexander nodded. "Once we have dined, I shall seek her out."

The sound of cutlery on china filled the room as Alexander and Rose tucked in their meal.

"Did you mean what you said earlier?" Alexander's voice broke the silence.

Rose tilted her head in confusion. "I said a lot of things. Could you perhaps be more specific?"

"That you could see the potential of the estate," Alexander clarified, gesturing vaguely around them with his fork.

"Oh. Yes, I did. Well, I do." Rose smiled. "It is as if the place is hibernating, and all it needs is to be woken up."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "And how do you propose to do that?"

Her heart rate quickened, but she held her ground. "I would like to decorate, perhaps look at other improvements that could be made to the main castle. And I feel the gardens are in need of more dedicated attention."

"Decorate?" Alexander frowned.

Rose nodded. "It is rather drab. There are some rooms that are still in mourning colors. Others that are in need of repair… I am not proposing that I fully renovate the castle. I simply want to bring it out of hiding."

"Restore it to its former glory?" Alexander smiled wryly.

Rose felt her heart twist as she said excitedly, "Exactly! It would not take much work, but the benefits would be significant. I would have the castle feel like a home."

"Very well. You may do what you like. After all, you are the lady of the castle now." Alexander paused, his expression suddenly hardening. "But you must promise me one thing."

Rose frowned. "And what promise would you need from me?"

"You will not enter the library in the East wing, nor will you enter the Duke's study." His tone made it clear this was not negotiable.

"I do not think I have been to either room yet."

Rose tried to remember if she had been shown to those rooms on her tour, but suspected not.

Why does he not call it his study? He is the Duke, after all.

The East wing was full of locked, closed doors, and they had not remained there long.

I wonder if that is why.

"Nor will you. No one goes to those rooms." Alexander looked at her, his expression indecipherable. "Do I have your word? You will not enter the library or the Duke's study?"

Again, Rose wondered why he seemed unable to claim the study as his own but decided against asking him. Small steps, small changes. "I give you my word. I shall not enter either of those rooms."

"Good. Thank you." Alexander nodded in satisfaction. "Anywhere else in the castle or the grounds, you may go. You may change whatever you like, though I expect my family may voice some objections if you wish to change any of their rooms."

He gave a small, wry smile as he said this, and Rose felt an odd fluttering sensation in her belly.

Is he making a joke?

She laughed, feeling some of the tension between them dissipate. "I would not dream of changing your family's rooms without their involvement. Though, perhaps I should suggest doing so to Olivia. I am sure her reaction would be something to behold."

Alexander chuckled. "I would not advise provoking my sister's temper. When she was a child, Mother once removed a broken cabinet, and she flew into such a rage that even the dogs fled."

"I do not find that difficult to believe."

Strong tempers clearly run in the family.

Surprisingly, the thought did not evoke any fear in Rose, just an odd kind of fondness. "I shall avoid bringing her wrath upon you all."

"And we shall all be deeply indebted to you for such consideration." Alexander returned to his food.

"Will you need to tell the staff that I have leave to make improvements to the house?" Rose thought of her conversation with Olivia earlier in the day.

Alexander looked surprised as he looked up at her. "You are the Duchess of Emberly, why should they not do as you command? They should not need to be reminded of their duties."

"What about financial considerations?" Rose asked, blushing furiously.

"What about them? Funds are of little concern." Alexander ran a hand through his hair, pursing his lips in thought. "Unless you are planning such improvements that might put the King himself to shame. Yet, I doubt you would do such a thing."

Rose felt herself blush but found she could give no answer.

"Where do you plan to start?" Alexander asked.

"I am not sure. I thought perhaps I could start with the entrance hall…" she trailed off as she saw the look of surprise on his face. "You do not approve?"

"No, it is not that. I simply wondered why you would choose to begin with the entrance hall." Alexander cocked his head.

"The hall gives the first impression of the rest of the castle. It sets the tone for every other room." Rose knew she sounded defensive. "Why should I not wish to start at the beginning?"

Alexander paused as though considering his words carefully. "You said you wished for the castle to feel like a home. Whilst the hall is, of course, the first thing a visitor would see, very few of the castle's inhabitants spend much of their time there."

"Then where would you propose I start?"

Is he changing his mind already?

Rose felt anger rise within her.

"I thought perhaps one of the drawing rooms—perhaps the one that overlooks the gardens?" Color rose to Alexander's cheeks, though she could not understand why. "I believe my mother and siblings spend much of their time there."

She thought for a moment, trying to recall her tour of the castle. An image of a grand room, with a collection of mismatched furniture, sprang to mind.

"Is that the room with the musical instruments in it?" she asked.

"I believe there is a harp and a pianoforte, yes." Alexander's blush deepened. "Though I think neither is fit to be played."

A suspicion formed in Rose's mind, and she decided to take a risk. "Why do you wish me to start in that room?"

Alexander swallowed and turned away from her. "When I visited Pembleton Manor, I noticed the pianoforte. I wondered who amongst your family played. It has been many years since there was music in the house, and it would be nice if it returns once more."

"You assume that I am the musician, then?" Rose smiled.

"Am I mistaken?" Alexander held her gaze.

Rose shook her head. "You are not mistaken. Well, not entirely. My mother insisted that we all learn skills required to be perfect ladies, so of course that included musical proficiency. Though I am by no means the most talented. That distinction belongs to Emily."

"Your youngest sister, yes?" Alexander drummed his hands on the table.

"Yes." Rose's heart swelled with pride as she recalled her youngest sister's skill. "She took to music as a duck takes to water. Why, it was only her size that limited her playing."

"Her size?" Alexander's confusion was evident.

"She was so young that it was a struggle for her to reach the keys, and she relied on us to operate the pedals for her." Rose laughed. "Until she discovered that she could tie blocks of wood to her feet."

Alexander let out a chuckle. "That is quite some dedication."

"It is." Rose remembered the many evenings they had spent listening to Emily play while they sang. "Though she is a dreadfully shy creature—at least about her playing. She loves it but is loath to play while in company."

"Ah, and so my hopes of hearing such angelic music are dashed." Alexander shook his head in mock despair. "I suppose I shall have to settle for listening to you instead."

"And what makes you think I will play for you?" Rose asked without thinking.

"Simply that you are a most proper young lady, and I expect once the pianoforte is repaired, Olivia shall force you into a duet." Alexander grinned. "Though, I confess, as much as I love my sister, her singing voice is far from lovely."

"And I suppose yours is?" Rose quipped.

"Perhaps." His eyes glinted. "I have been told I could make angels weep. Though I am not sure if it is due to my skill or lack of it."

"We shall just have to wait and see." Rose smiled, trying to imagine Alexander with his serious expression singing beside her.

"So, you will start with the drawing room?" Alexander asked after a moment.

"You have convinced me." Rose grinned.

"Wonderful." Alexander stood up, and after a moment, he held his hand out to her.

She took it, allowing him to help her to her feet. "Thank you."

He nodded, releasing her hand and turning towards the door. "I must find my mother, but I will see you on the morrow."

"Indeed."

Rose watched as he left the room, without closing the door behind him.

For the first time in a long time, she found herself looking forward to the next day. She had no idea what it would bring.

And that is exciting.